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STEP Program

STEP Project : Supporting the Transition to and Engagement in Parenthood

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The STEP team is currently recruiting expecting fathers and/or pregnant women to participate in one or both parts of its research project on the transition to parenthood.

1^st part - For all expectant parents (fathers and mothers)

This part of the research project aims to better understand how various risk and protective factors contribute to the well-being, health, and adjustment of people expecting a child.

Eligibility requires a pregnancy of no more than 26 weeks at the time of participation.

2^nd part – Free STEP Program for pregnant women

This part of the project aims to offer the STEP Program to pregnant women who experienced difficult events during childhood and to evaluate the program’s effectiveness. The STEP Program was recently developed in Québec to address the specific needs and challenges faced by expecting women who have experienced difficult events in childhood or adolescence, whether or not they currently have concerns related to pregnancy or motherhood. STEP is a group-based psychoeducational and support program designed to promote psychological well-being during the perinatal period and support the development of the child. It includes eight to nine sessions offered to groups of four to six women. Preliminary evaluation shows that STEP Program is sensitive to the issues faced by expecting women with difficult childhood experiences, is safe, is well-received by participants, and supports well-being and self-exploration.

Eligibility requires a pregnancy of no more than 26 weeks at the time of participation.

Description

Program Overview

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Benefits

Fears and Expectations

Timing matters

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Samedi, 21 mars 2026

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Procedure

All individuals participating in either part of the research project will complete online questionnaires at three points: at the beginning of pregnancy, at the end of pregnancy, and six months after the child’s birth. Some parents may also be invited to take part in additional research activities such as physiological measurements and interviews, conducted by videoconference or in our research laboratories.

Financial compensation

A financial compensation of $10 is provided at each stage of the study after completing the questionnaires. An additional compensation ranging from $10 to $30 is provided for other research activities.

Click the button below to receive more information about either part of the research project or to indicate your interest :